Netanyahu to French Jews: ‘Israel Is Your Home’

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu told French Jews yesterday, after 17 people were killed there during three days of Islamist attacks, that Israel is their home, AFP reported.

“To all the Jews of France, all the Jews of Europe, I would like to say that Israel is not just the place in whose direction you pray, the state of Israel is your home,” he said in a televised statement. “Unless the world comes to its senses, terror will continue to strike in other places,” he added in remarks on his official Twitter account.

“We express our deep sorrow for our Jewish brothers who were murdered simply because they were Jews,” he said. “(To) our brothers and sisters in the Jewish community of France we share your pain at the awful loss,” he added.

Netanyahu, AFP reported, also said he had ordered a ministerial committee to convene next week to discuss ways to encourage immigration of French and other European Jews to Israel.

“This week, a special team of ministers will convene to advance steps to increase immigration from France and other countries in Europe that are suffering from terrible anti-Semitism. All Jews who want to immigrate to Israel will be welcomed here warmly and with open arms. We will help you in your absorption here in our state that is also your state,” he said in the statement, the AFP reported.